Combination foot stool and chair



April 12, 1955 D. A. STATTLER COMBINATION FOOT STOOL AND CHAIR Filed Jan. 23, 1952 l7 4 a @040 2 2e 24 23 /Jzzw 2,705,994 COMBINATION FOOT STOOIi AND CHAIR Donald A. Stattler, Pasadena, Calif.

Application January 23, 1952, Serial No. 267,709

2 Claims. (Cl. 155-156) This invention relates to a combination foot stool and chair and more particularly to such a combination that is easily converted from one type of furniture to another.

With the growing tendency toward more functional furniture in the home, in order to more efiiciently utilize space in living rooms, dens and bedrooms, it is evident that there is a need for the provision of furniture that may be easily converted for a use other than that for which it is normally intended, fulfills and partially solves the problems of such needs. It is also occasionally desirable to provide comfortable seating facilities for children and adults, the need being enhanced through the general use of viewing type of home entertainment such as television, home motion pictures, slides, etc.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel unit of furniture in the form of a combination foot stool and chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide such unit of furniture that may be easily converted from one form to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel converting mechanism for such a unit of furniture that will be efficient in operation and which may be constructed from inexpensive materials.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination foot stool and chair having an extendable head rest portion.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel combination foot stool and chair that is sturdy and rugged in construction and still pleasing in appearance.

Other and further important objects of the invention will become apparent from the disclosures in the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the combination foot stool and chair of the present invention shown in position for use as a foot stool;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view similar to Fig. 1, showing the combination foot stool and chair converted for use as a chair;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 of Fig 2; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of pivot means.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the combination foot stool and chair of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The combination unit includes generally a structural and functional substantially U-shaped frame 11 having side portions 12, a rectangular parallel pipe shaped cushion 13 positioned intermediate the side portions 12, a pivot means 14 between the side portions 12 and the cushion 13 and an extendable head rest 15.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the frame 11 has a horizontal spanning member 16 which is spaced from the base of the combination unit and secured to internal side frame members 17. A second pair of side frame members 18 is positioned parallel to and spaced from the members 17, the upper ends of the members 17 and 18 being secured to header members 19. At the forward edge thereof, the member 16 is adapted to be supported by a spacer 20, and at the rear edge is secured to a support 7 nited States Patent 0 and stop member 21 the purpose of which will be later described.

As shown, the frame 11 may be covered with any suitable material 22, padding 23 being provided intermediate the frame 11 and the material 22 as may be desired.

The cushion 13 has an H-shaped frame comprising relatively heavy side structural members 24 and spaced transverse interconnecting members 25 and 26, the space therebetween forming an opening 27 for the reception of the head rest 15. One end of the opening 27 is closed by a stop and closure member 28. The cushion 13 is adapted to rest on the base of the frame 11, support blocks 29 being provided beneath the material 22 and secured to the member 16 to support the forward end thereof. The frame of the cushion 13 may be provided with upper and lower padding 30 and covered with a suitable material 31.

The rear end of the cushion is supported by the pivot means 14 which comprises a pair of aligned pins 32 which are secured in aligned bores 33 in and adjacent the upper ends of the side members 17 and 18. The inner ends of the pins 32 extend inwardly beyond-the inner surfaces of the side portions 12 and are positioned in grooves 34 in the cushion structural members 24. The shape of the grooves 34 is such as to permit upward, rearward and upward movement of the cushion together with a pivotal upward and rearward tilting thereof as shown in Fig. 3. When the cushion is moved from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in dotted lines of the same figure and solid lines in Fig. 5, the stop member 28 is adapted to engage the member 21 of the base to limit rearward tilting of the cushion. It is to be noted that the construction of the grooves 34 is such that when the combination unit is converted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, for use as a. chair, any force exerted against the' cushion will be to force the pins 32 against the inner ends of the grooves 34 thus providing an efficient and strong support for the cushion. This same form of support also applies when the unit is adapted for a foot stool.

The head rest 15, normally removably positioned in the cushion opening 27, has an interior cushion portion 35 and a shorter cushion portion 36, a fabric hinge 37 being provided therebetween. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the head rest is adapted to be extended from the opening 27 and the portion 36 folded forward along the hinge 37, the outer end thereof being adapted to rest on the end surface 38 of the cushion to retain the head rest in an extended position and place the head rest surface of the portion 36 adjacent the back rest surface of the cushion 13. A hand opening 39 is provided in the outer surface of the cushion 36 to facilitate extension of the head rest.

It will be noted that the head rest 15 may be completely removed for the storage of magazines or other articles in the opening 27.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 6, wherein like parts are indicated by single primed reference numerals. In this modification, the cushion is provided with angularly disposed straight grooves 40 which operate in much the same manner as the grooves 34 to reposition the pins 32 in relation to the cushion when the cushion is tilted rearwardly.

Thus it may be seen that the features of the combination foot stool and chair of the present invention are such as to enable the construction of a rugged and dependable form of convertible furniture that may be fabricated from relatively inexpensive and readily available material, the unit being attractive in design and functional and space saving in the home.

Having thus described the invention and the present embodiments thereof, it is desired to emphasize the fact that many modifications may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combination foot stool and chair, comprising, in combination: a substantially U-shaped covered frame having a base portion and upwardly extending side portions; a cushion positioned intermediate said side portions of said frame, the front, rear and top surfaces of said cushion lying in the same planes as adjacent portions of said frame and one surface of said cushion being adapted to rest on said frame base portion when said combination is positioned to form a foot stool; a pair of pivot members extending inwardly from said side portions of said frame; a pair of stiffening members positioned in side portions of said cushion; complementary grooves formed in each of said stiffening members, said grooves being adapted to rotatably and slidably receive extended ends of said pivot members, the cooperation between said pivot members and said grooves being such as to permit said cushion to be first raised and then tilted rearwardly; stop means formed by an edge of said base portion of said frame and engageable by a portion of said cushion for limiting rearward rotation of said cushion; a compartment in said cushion having an opening in said front surface of said cushion; a dual section head rest positioned in said compartment and adapted to be extended therefrom; and a hingle connecting said sections of said head rest whereby upon extension thereof, one section may be moved to overlie another section and to engage said front surface of said cushion for retaining said head rest in an extended position.

2. A combination foot stool and chair comprising, in combination: a substantially U-shaped covered frame having a base portion and upwardly extending side portions; a movable cushion positioned intermediate said side portions of said frame, the front, rear and top surfaces of said cushion lying in the same planes as adjacent portions of said frame and one surface of said cushion being adapted to rest on said frame base portion when said combination is positioned to form a foot stool; a pair of pivot members extending inwardly from said side portions of said frame; a pair of stiffening members in side portions of said cushion; complementary grooves formed in each of said stifiening members, said grooves extending rearwardly, upwardly and then rearwardly with respect to said side portions of said frame and said cushion when said combination is in position to form a foot stool and being adapted to rotatably and slidably receive extended ends of said pivot members, the cooperation between said pivot members and said grooves being such as to permit said cushion to be first raised and then tilted rearwardly thereby to position said combination to form a chair; stop means formed by an edge of said base portion of said frame and engageable by a portion of said cushion for limiting rearward rotation of said cushion; a compartment in said cushion having an opening in said front surface of said cushion; a dual section head rest positioned in said compartment and adapted to be extended therefrom; and a hinge connecting said sections of said head rest whereby, upon extension thereof, one section may be moved to overlie another section and to engage said front surface of said cushion for retaining said head rest in an extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 166,455 Edwards Aug. 10, 1875 365,248 Fackrell June 21, 1887 868,000 Owen Oct. 15, 1907 2,357,214 McDole Aug. 29, 1944 2,491,676 Matthews Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 90,585 Germany Feb. 13, 1897 390,673 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1933 454,014 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1936 

